Foldable hat stand



Nov. 25, 1941. H, DOWNS ETA'L 2,264,200

FOLDABLE HAT STAND Filed April 18, 1941 I Hazel/Belarus 0886? INVENTORS L flea /awwra.

ATTOR N EYS Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,264,200, FOLDABLE HAT STAND Hazel Downs and Mimi Ossa, Washington, D.

Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,256

1 Claim.

This invention relates to hat stands and its general object is to provide a stand that can be used for advantageously displaying ladies hats in stores, show Windows and the like, and is very useful in the home, in that a hat can be placed on the stand and is supported thereby in an elevated position, against becoming misshaped or damaged.

An important object is to provide a hat stand that is foldable in flat compact form to take up minimum space in storage, and the foldable feature renders the stand very desirable when travelling, due to the convenient manner in which it can be placed in luggage and the small space used thereby.

A further object is to provide a hat stand that can be instantly set up or folded, and no fastening means such as clamps, bands or the like are required for holding the stand in either of its positions, and when in set up position, the stand is self-supporting against casual collapsing or folding or toppling over.

Another object is to provide a hat stand that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, neat and attractive in appearance, and extremely efficient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and. specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stand that forms the subject matter of the present invention in set up position for use.

Figure 2 is a plan view with the panels of the stand in open position, and illustrates the rear faces thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure '2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that our stand in the form shown includes three separate flat panels, there being a middle or intermediate panel I and end panels 2 and 3, and each panel is of elongated trapezoid form, that is the lower and upper edges thereof are parallel and the side edges are inclined inwardly or diverge from the lower edge to the upper edge, so that when the stand is in its set up position of Figure 1, it assumes a truncated pyramid shape.

Each panel includes a single sheet 4 of relatively thick stiff cardboard or the like, that provides the body thereof, and the body preferably has its entire area, that is the front and rear faces, as well as the four edges covered by sheet material, such as paper, fabric, oilcloth or any other material suitable for the purpose, and the covering which is indicated bythe reference numeral 5 may have fanciful designs printed, painted or otherwise provided thereon and the covering may be of any color. In fact, the covering of each panel may be of a different color, for example one covering may be red, one yellow and the other blue, so as to render the stand ornamental and attractive. The covering may be in the form of a sheath shaped to fit the body and drawn thereon from the upper narrow edge thereof, and thence sewed along the lower edge as at 6, but if the covering is made from paper, it is preferably adhesively secured to the body, as will be apparent.

The middle panel I in the form shown is provided with four holes 1 arranged adjacent the side edges thereof, while each of the end panels are provided with two holes 8 arranged adjacent one of their side edges, as shown in Figure 2, and, the holes may be reinforced by rings or grommets of metal or other suitable material. In any event the panels are connected together in spaced side edge to edge relation by flexible elements 9, such as cord or the like that extends through the holes and is tied together to provide hinge means that allows for free swinging movement of the panels relative to each other, so that they can be readily folded one upon the other in superimposed relation or disposed in set up position. When in set up position, the panels are inclined toward each other so that the stand assumes a truncated pyramid form, as previously set forth and clearly shown in Figure 1.

From the above description and disclosure in the drawing, it will be obvious that when our stand is in set up position, a hat can be placed on the top thereof to rest thereon, in a manner whereby the crown of the hat will be disposed in surrounding relation about the stand for the latter to support the hat and hold the same elevated against becoming misshaped or damaged.

In order to render the stand more attractive, especially for display purposes, the cord is preferably extended along the connected edges of the panels for disposal between the hinge portions thereof, as at It! and rosettes or tufts II are secured to the hinge portions to cover the same. The cord is preferably of the loosely woven vide end panels having their outer side edges free, whereby the stand can be set up in hat supporting position or folded with the panels one upon the other in superimposed relation, each panel being of trapezoid shape for the stand to assume a truncated pyramid form when in set up position, each panel including a sheet of relatively thick stiff cardboard providing the body thereof, a covering for the body and secured thereto to cover both faces of the body and all of the edges thereof, said fastening elements being cords and extended from the hinge portions thereof for disposal along the connected edge of the panels, and rosettes secured to the ing elements extending through the holes and tied 15 hinge 13011310115 to Cover e e together for hingedly connecting the panels to each other in side edge to edge relation to pro- I-IAZEL DOWNS. MIMI OSSA. 

